Coin-freed ice-cream vending machine



June 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1946 Inventor Attorney June 13, 1950 w. H. PARTRIDGE 2,511,076

COIN-FREED ICE-CREAM VENDING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GZ.

6 V: v Attorney June 13, 1950 w. H. PARTRIDGE COINFREED--ICECREAM VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6, 1946 Inventor Attorney Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN-FREED ICE- CREAM VENDING MACHINE William Horace Partridge, London, England Claims. (Cl. 62-95) This invention relates to ice cream vending machines which are automatically operated by the insertion of a coin to deliver bars or packages of ice cream or other frozen produce stored in piles or rows in the interior of the machine.

As is well known one of the difficulties encountered in the operation of such machines and which it is the object of the present invention to obviate, is the formation of frost on the magazine and moving parts, such being naturally deposited on the internal surfaces due to ingress of air from the exterior into the machine in which the ice cream or other produce is stored at a temperature of 10 to -20 Fahrenheit.

According to the present invention mechanical refrigeration is employed for maintaining this requisite low temperature, cooling being effected in a compartment remote from and insulated from the storage compartment which under normal operating conditions is cooled solely by a circulation of cold air.

Cooling in the aforesaid compartment is maintained by a copper pipe coil through which the refrigerant vapour is expanded from an expansion valve as in the ordinary refrigeration cycle. The said coil, which may be soldered to one or more sheets of metal to increase the cooling surface, may be mounted within a compartment or cooler, the top and bottom of which communicate by ducts with the top and bottom of the storage compartment. This cooling plate to be separate from the metallic walls of the cooling compartment.

So long as the refrigeration machine is in operation the air in the cooler is cooled and the cooled air passes to the storage compartment by the lower duct displacing the warmer air therein which enters the cooler by the upper duct. As the air in the cooler is always colder and therefore heavier than the air in the storage compartment a constant natural circulation of air is maintained and the air in the storage compartment will be unsaturated and will therefore assorb any moisture contained in the outside air which may possibly pass into the machine, either by leakage through the insulation or by the discharge of the packets from the storage compartment. Thus the deposition of frost in the magazine is either entirely prevented or if same does occur it will be absorbed by the circulating air so that the operating parts, by which on insertion of a coin a package is delivered, are able to function.

In spite of all precautions frost will in time accumulate in the cooler and such must be removed without a rise in temperature in the storage compartment as this would be detrimental to the ice cream in the stored packages. Two coolers may be embodied in the machine for alternate use so that when one becomes coated with frost it may be cut off from the storage compartment and defrosted while the temperature is kept within the prescribed limits by the other cooler. 1

Alternatively, or in addition, a tank containing a eutectic freezing solution may be mounted in such a position relatively to the storage compartment that the solution would be frozen by the air circulation through the cooler and by reason of its latent heat would maintain the requisite low temperature in the compartment when the cooler is being defrosted. For this purpose ports may be provided communicating with the exterior or provision may be made for a flow of warm water over the cooling coil, or warm refrigerant may be made to flow through it.

In order to prevent admission of outside air to the storage compartment when a package is withdrawn one or more valves may be suitably disposed in or with respect to the delivery chute which normally cover the aperture through which the packages pass from the storage compartment and which are opened when the ejecting mechanism is operated by insertion of a coin and closed immediately after the package has been ejected.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, it is illustrated, by way of example only, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of one construction of ice cream vending machine according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation on line AA of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The machine comprises an outer casing I with thick walls constructed of heat insulating material and access to the machine is obtained through two insulating doors 2 and 3 at the front of the machine. The interior space comprises a service section or magazine 4 and a storage section or magazine 5, in the former of which are stored columns of ice cream or frozen produce packages ready for delivery, and in the latter of which are stored columns of reserve packages awaiting transfer to the service section.

At the back of each section is a metal tank 6 containing a eutectic solution, and each tank has side wings 1, 1 flanking its respective section, so that section 4 is separated from section 5 by side wings I.

At the back of the tank 6 the interior space is occupied by a metal walled compartment 8 containing pipe coils 9, through which a refrigerant supplied as by a suitable associated refrigerating machine 9' for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a closed circuit, arriving by pipe ID and leaving by pipe II is expanded through expansion valve device l2. The pipe coils 9 are preferably attached to spaced metal partitions with- 3 in compartment 8 so as to exchange heat readily therewith by conduction and the front wall of compartment 8 is formed by the tank 6. Ducts l3, 14 provide communication between compartment 8 and service and storage compartments 4, 5 at their upper and lower ends respectively.

The ice cream packages P are delivered from their columns into the delivery chute I5 by means of a rotating insulated shaft IS, the rotation of which is subject to the control of any suitable form of coin freed mechanism, which forms no part of this invention. This shaft has a series of radial arms l1, one for each column of packages, disposed beneath the respective columns and spaced at equal distances round the shaft. The lowermost package in each column rests on a plate It which is slotted to allow the corresponding arm ll, during rotation of shaft Hi, to engage the end of the package resting on plate is to push it into the delivery chute !5. Owing to the staggered relation of the arms l! the packages will be delivered in succession from the four columns in turn, each complete rotation of the shaft thus delivering, in the example illustrated, four packages.

A third compartment or chamber 4 is disposed below the lower communicating conduit or duct I4 between the air cooling or refrigerating compartment 3 and the service compartment 4 and/or 5, and a heat insulating partition or wall l juts out from the back wall of casing l between or to separate said third compartment 4 from said air cooling or refrigerating compartment 8 and protect the ejector device or mechanism mounted on the shaft IS in the third chamber 4 housing said ejector device or mechanism (Figure 3), from the cooling or refrigerating compartment 8 which houses the freezing coils 9. This prevents any cold air from the coils 9 from passing directly to the chamber 4 housing the ejector device or mechanism and frosting up the delivery or ejector device, valves, or other mechanism of the machine to interfere with the operation thereof.

At its entry end the delivery chute I5 is fitted with a heat insulating valve 19, which may be mechanically opened when a package P is delivered into the upper end of chute I5, or may be gravity operated by the weight of the package bearing on it.

At the lower end of the chute l5 is a delivery valve which has to be opened to allow removal of the delivered packages from chute I5, during which time the insulating valve I9 remains closed and prevents the entry of warm and moist air through the delivery chute l5 when valve 20 is opened. If desired, the valves [9 and 20 may be interlocked mechanically by a link mechanism to lock the valve l9 when the valve 20 is open, in order to prevent the valve !9 from being opened in an unauthorized manner, as, for example, by a stick, inserted when the valve 20 is opened.

The chute l5 and the two valves I9 and 20 are preferably made as one insulated unit which can be removed from the machine as a whole, to facilitate service to the shaft [6 and the lower end of the service magazine.

According to a modification, the storage section or magazine 5, if made of the same dimensions as the service section 4, may be converted into a service section or magazine, if a delivery mechanism similar to that already described, is fitted in the space beneath it which is available for the purpose. By providing a suitable clutch with a handle to be operated by the customer, the two delivery mechanisms can be operated selectively to give delivery of a choice of two different kinds of produce.

Suitable pipe connections (not shown.) passing through the insulation may be provided at the top and bottom of the cooling coils, to allow for the introduction and withdrawal of warm air or water over the coils when it is desired to defrost them.

It should be clearly understood that the eutectic tank 6 serves the dual purpose of acting as an insulator between the service and storage magazines 4, 5, and the compartment 8 containing the cooling coils, and also as a means for maintaining the magazines at the requisite low temperature while the cooling coils are being defrosted, or should they be out of action for any other reason, such as breakdown of the refrigerating plant.

Although it is only essential to employ a single cooler when the machine includes a eutectic tank, two or more coolers may be provided for alternative use if desired.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description the service and storage magazine under normal operating conditions are cooled solely by the flow through them of a current of air maintained at the requisite low temperature by its passage through the cooling chamber 8, where it passes over cooling coils 9, maintained at a low temperature by an external refrigerating system. Any moisture contained in the circulating air will be deposited in the coils 9 and will thus be prevented from frosting up the magazine and the deliver and other mechanism of the machine. At suitable intervals of time the cooling coils 9 are defrosted and the resultant water run off from the machine.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic vending machine for refrigerated products requiring to be stored at a term perature not higher than 0 (3., comprising a container formed with heat insulating walls, an associated refrigerating machine for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a closed-circuit including a cooling tube through which the refrigerant passes, a service compartment within said container for holding the stored products ready for delivery, an air-cooling compartment within said container, separate and distinct from the said service compartment, the lower ends of said two compartments being substantially at the same level, the two compartments communicating with one another both at their upper ends and their lower ends in order to allow a circulatory flow of air through the compartments, supporting means in said air-cooling compartment for supporting the cooling tube of said refrigerating machine therein completely spaced from the walls of the air-cooling compartment to allow airflow between said tube and walls, a third compartment below the lower communicating end between said air-cooling compartment and said service compartment, a heat-insulating partition separating said third compartment from said air-cooling compartment, means in said third compartment for causing ejection of said products, as required, from said service compartment, and an outlet passage through which products from the base of the service compartment can be removed from the machine.

2. An automatic vending machine for refrigerated products requiring to be stored at a temperature not higher than 0 C., comprising a container formed with heat insulating walls, an associated refrigerating machine for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a closed-circuit including a cooling tube through which the refrigerant passes, a service compartment within said container for holding the stored products ready for delivery, an air-cooling compartment within said container, separate and distinct from the said service compartment, the lower ends of said two compartments being substantially at the same level, the two compartments communicating with one another both at their upper ends and at their lower ends in order to allow a circulatory flow of air through the compartments, supporting means in said air-cooling compartment for supporting the cooling tube of said refrigerating machine therein completely spaced from the walls of the air-cooling compartment to allow airflow between said tube and walls, a third compartment below the lower communicating end between said air-cooling compartment and said service compartment, a heat-insulating partition separating said third compartment from said air-cooling compartment, means in said third compartment for causing ejection of said products, as required, from said service compartment, and an outlet passage through which products from the base of the service compartment can be removed from the machine, said outlet passage having two placed closure members to prevent air-ingress and means for ensuring that when one of said closure members is opened to allow passage of a product the other closure member remains closed.

3. An automatic vending machine for refrigerated products requiring to be stored at a temperature not higher than 0 0., comprising a container formed with heat insulating walls, anassociated refrigerating machine for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a closed-circuit including a cooling tube through which the refrigerant passes, a service compartment within said container for holding the stored products ready for delivery, an air-cooling compartment within said container, separate and distinct from the said service compartment, the lower ends of said two compartments being substantially at the same level, the two compartments communicating with one another both at their upper ends and at their lower ends in order to allow a circulatory flow of air through the compartments, supporting means in said air-cooling compartment for supporting the cooling tube of said refrigerating machine therein completely spaced from the Walls of the air-cooling compartment to allow airflow between said tube and walls, and an outlet passage through which products from the base of the service compartment can be removed from the machine, means located below the lowermost intercommunicating passage between said service and air-cooling compartments, for displacing the products one by one from said service compartment into said outlet passage when operated, a shaft connected to said displacing means and extending through the heat insulating walls of the vending machine, whereby the said displacing means may be operated from outside the machine, and heat insulation around said shaft to restrict heat flow therefrom into the cooled compartments.

4. An automatic vending machine for refrigerated products requiring to be stored at a temperature not higher than 0 0., comprising a container formed with heat insulating walls, an associated refrigerating machine for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a close-circuit including a cooling tube through which the refrigerant passes, a service compartment within said container for holding the stored products ready for delivery, an air-cooling compartment within said container, separate and distinct from the said service compartment, the lower ends of said two compartments being substantially at the same level, the two compartments communicating with one another both at their upper ends and at their lower ends in order to allow a circulatory flow of air through the compartments, supporting means in said air-cooling compartment to allow airflow between said tube and walls, and means located below the lowermost inter-communicating passage between said service and air-cooling compartments for displacing products from the service compartment upon demand, and a unitary structure, removably incorporated in the container walls adjacent to said displacing means, said unitary structure comprising an outlet chute therethrough into which displaced F products are received from the service compartment for delivery from the machine, and releasable air-valve means in said chute, so arranged that upon removal of said unitary structure from the machine access may be had to the lower part of the service compartment and to the product displacing means.

5. An automatic vending machine for refrigerated products requiring to be stored at a temperature not higher than 0 0., comprising a con" tainer formed with heat insulating walls, an associated refrigerating machine for cyclically operating a refrigerant in a closed-circuit, including a cooling tube through which the refrigerant passes, a service compartment within said container for holding the stored products ready for delivery, an air-cooling compartment within said container, separate and distinct from the said service compartment, the lower ends of said two compartments being substantially at the same level, and said two compartments communicating with one another both at their upper ends and at their lower ends in order to allow a circulatory flow of air through the compartments, supporting means in said air-cooling compartment for supporting the cooling tube of said refrigerating machine therein completely spaced from the walls of said air-cooling compartment to allow airflow between said tube and walls, another compartment within the container, located between said service compartment and said aircooling compartment, adapted to be filled with an eutectic mixture, and an outlet passage through which products from the base of said service compartment can be removed from the machine.

WILLIAM HORACE PARTRIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,009,817 Rodman July 30, 1935 2,039,395 Dalton et al May 5, 1936 2,240,928 Hamel May 6, 1941 2,252,979 Reiter Aug. 19, 1941 2,308,532 Mills Jan. 19, 1943 2,389,283 Stewart Nov. 20, 1945 

